Effective Treatment of Atrophic and Icepick Acne Scars Using Deep Non-Ablative Radiofrequency and Multisource Fractional RF Skin Resurfacing

Monica Elman,Yoram Harth,Ido Frank,Hila Cohen-Froman

doi:10.4236/jcdsa.2012.24051

Monica Elman, Yoram Harth + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/jcdsa.2012.24051

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Abstract

Background and Objectives: Effective treatment for atrophic (depressed) and icepick acne scars requires treatment of both epidermis—for roughness, texture and hyperpigmentation, and the dermis—for collagen remodeling. All first generation radiofrequency systems allow nonablative RF treatment while a few others allow simple bipolar Fractional RF skin resurfacing. The FDA cleared multisource radiofrequency therapy system (EndyMed PRO, EndyMed Ltd., Cesarea, Israel) allows, for the first time, phase controlled multisource RF for both deep (up to 11 mm) non ablative RF and fractional RF skin resurfacing on the same treatment device. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Ten subjects with atrophic acne scars were enrolled in the study. Patients were photographed using standardized methods. In each treatment session, each patient received a full face 3DEEP non ablative skin tightening treatment followed by a Fractional skin resurfacing treatment. The treatment sessions were repeated once a month to a total of up to 4 treatments. Results: All subjects experienced mild-moderate edema and erythema as an immediate response to treatment. Edema resolved after up to three hours post treatment and erythema lasted up to 2 days. Micro ablative crusts were formed 1 - 2 days post treatments and lasted up to 5 days on facial areas. Patients' photographs—before each treatment session and 1 and 3 months after the last session—were graded according to the accepted Cosmetic Improvement Scale. All patients obtained significant skin improvement. Seventy percent of patients had 50% - 75% improvement one month after the third treatment session while the other thirty percent experienced a 25% - 50%. Discussion and Conclusions: The presented results describe for the first time a new treatment system (EndyMed PROTM) that allows both deep non ablative RF delivery and Fractional skin resurfacing on the same treatment platform. This work shows the synergy of combining these two applications for the improvement of acne scars, as well as for some secondary possible pigmentation and vascular improvement.

Highlights

Effective treatment for atrophic depressed acne scars requires treatment of both epidermis—for epidermal roughness, texture and hyperpigmentation and dermis—for collagen remodeling [1,2,3]
Each patient received a full face 3DEEP non ablative skin tightening treatment followed by a Fractional skin resurfacing treatment
The presented results describe for the first time a new treatment system (EndyMed PROTM) that allows both deep non ablative RF delivery and Fractional skin resurfacing on the same treatment platform

Summary

Introduction

Effective treatment for atrophic depressed acne scars requires treatment of both epidermis—for epidermal roughness, texture and hyperpigmentation and dermis—for collagen remodeling [1,2,3]. The EndyMed PRO RF System is an FDA cleared computerized system that employs up to six radio frequency generators at the same time, creating few simultaneous electric fields in the same phase, that force the energy to penetrate into the deep dermis, causing a non-ablative deep dermal heating effect that results in painless skin tightening. In another handpiece, the multisource RF is used to form micro ablative fractional skin resurfacing with simultaneous volumetric. This work shows the synergy of combining these two applications for the improvement of acne scars, as well as for some secondary possible pigmentation and vascular improvement

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Conclusion